Demo CD's

[dj_soo]

Originally Posted by Drafted

Fully agreed. This should have been in my original post. I wasnt telling people to cut and paste, just trying to tell them to stay on point for an hour. Plus there's way less pressure when you're sitting at home in front of your comp, then when you're in front of a crowd of peers/dj's. So mistakes in front of crowd can be written off as nervousness instead of at home which just shows lack of skillz

meh, on the flipside, little mistakes made in live performances often go unnoticed or are forgotten about momentarily (especially pumping on a loud sound system). Recorded mistakes stand out like a bad rash a lot of the time. That's not to say people won't notice major trainwrecks - just small stuff like minor pitch bends or going off-time for a couple seconds before being fixed is just way more noticable on CD...

Personally, I feel a shitload more pressure when i'm at home and the record button has been pressed...

[G3N3R4L]

Originally Posted by TrixX

but i do agree to an extent........if its that noticebly horrible......why hand it out??? i'm sure if dozens of people notice the mistakes, the dj making it does too.

This is where a lot of the people get frustrated at newer Djs for sure. They stop listening to them unless they've seen the name on a flyer cuz of "a few bad apples"

Originally Posted by TrixX

most people i know get a chance to play 'cause their friends throw parties not 'cause their mix is good!

This fact is quite annoying but there is nothing you can do about it. I hear alot of really poor acts on stage that I KNOW could use some work. its lame but its something in the scene that wont ever change.

[TrixX]

Originally Posted by G3N3R4L

This is where a lot of the people get frustrated at newer Djs for sure. They stop listening to them unless they've seen the name on a flyer cuz of "a few bad apples"



This fact is quite annoying but there is nothing you can do about it. I hear alot of really poor acts on stage that I KNOW could use some work. its lame but its something in the scene that wont ever change.

i find it annoying if the acts are getting continuous play without improving, but i'm all for letting new djs into the scene! everyones got a different flavour! and some people need to play out to see what exactly they need to improve on. i was just stating that a bad mix being handed out doesn't really kill your career......and if you don't like it, don't listen to it......simple as that!

and my quote about re-recording had more to do with people that haven't had a chance to play out, don't know promoters and only have mixes to show talent. if all you have is a mix to get you going.......take a listen if you have to and re-record when necessary.

and mofo-x.......i know quite a few people that are the same way. that record button is constantly on their mind!

[Bevvy Swift]

Originally Posted by mofo-x

Personally, I feel a shitload more pressure when i'm at home and the record button has been pressed...

true dat mang. i play my best in front of people.

[Toxxin Ephekt]

I usually work on my CD's for quite a few months before I post them...I wouldn't be caught dead releasing a crap CD, but I aint saying that my CD's are 100% clean cuz I do it live and in one recording, Press Record and Give'r!!

[(*disco*)]

Originally Posted by mux

I won't book someone based on a studio mix. I see studio mixes as a demo of someone's studio mixing skills, which IMHO has absolutely nothing to do with their ability to rock a dancefloor.

I've stopped making studio demos. I'm shit in the studio anyway. :)

what? no more mux demo's? ;)

[Mark]

demo cd's for the most part are kind of useless. its all about connections, especially here in vancouver. i only made demo cd's or put mixes up for download to get criticism and feedback. in my opinion, for bookings, its mostly about how strong your network is.

[ill-esha]

I seem to break out in hives whenever the record button is pressed. I'm getting better, but.. yeah. It's a weird thing. Listening to a mistake back makes it grow larger and larger until you want to pull your hair out.

Plus I hate planning mixes so here's hoping when I press record that I magically program the perfect set on the spot, right? This is why it was over 3 years between my second "released" CD - (East Meets West Bass Tour 2001) and my third (Synchronicities).

Now it's been a year and a half. Time to start pressing record *shudder*

[miSsy_chriSsy]

What helps is having a computer that WORKS :(

time to get a new one that can acutally hold Sound Forge without crashing, UGH.

[G3N3R4L]

Originally Posted by Mr.DC2

demo cd's for the most part are kind of useless. its all about connections, especially here in vancouver. i only made demo cd's or put mixes up for download to get criticism and feedback. in my opinion, for bookings, its mostly about how strong your network is.

Well, thats true for alot of local talent. You know someone who knows the guy throwing party A.

But i think that they still can serve a purpose for out of town bookings. Drop a couple quality mixes around kelowna or alberta (examples) and you never know if someone likes it and wants to book a 'vancouver dj'.

I dont think that the whole premise is shot, not 100% anyways.

[MissMarz]

record button... aiiieeeee....
its completely dif feeling. i've been working on my cd and each time i know i can make it better. but thats the learning process right? when i think i'm ready... i'll post.till then...

[angst]

Originally Posted by Mr.DC2

demo cd's for the most part are kind of useless. its all about connections, especially here in vancouver. i only made demo cd's or put mixes up for download to get criticism and feedback. in my opinion, for bookings, its mostly about how strong your network is.

How do you suppose people get those connections and strengthen their network? One way is by handing out demo Cds. Demo Cds have gotten me lots of gigs (and I don't mean just local) over the years, so don't underestimate their value.

Imho, the reason alot of people don't get booked because of their demos is that there is nothing special or unique about them. Why would a promoter book a no name DJ with an average demo who plays tunes similar to more well-know/established DJs.

[Ree Fresh]

I think ppl who are being so anal about demo's should realax. No one except superstars are going to come out with a perfect cd. Demo's are no walk in the park. When it comes to recording Im one of those ppl who really gets put on the spot and picky that ntohing works out.

I can understand if a dj is trying to give you demo with only a few tracks on it and or trainwreaks constintly it then becomes usless, but to have a few off mixes and nail the rest is what most dj's come up with. Ive even found some minor mistakes on some of my favorite dj's demos :p

Whats really funny is sometimes im a little proud of any off mix's... at least im not one of those dj's who cheet and record in patches and then put it all together to make it seem like it's perfect.

To me a demo is mainly to show someone the kind of music you play, then show you have the basic skill to play live. However like some have siad alot of bookings happen with out a promoter even bothering to listen to the demo. So its more just like a buisness card sometimes.

But really I dont think its fair to base a DJ primarly on their demo. With alot of them I never hear the tracks or styel alot of dj's play on their demo live. Or some are much better live than what they can make out of a cd.

[Ree Fresh]

Originally Posted by miSsy_chriSsy

What helps is having a computer that WORKS :(

time to get a new one that can acutally hold Sound Forge without crashing, UGH.

BAHAHHA I can understand too well. I sware im cursed when it comes to demos. The amount of times my computer has frooz while mixing, lost my master mix, the burner breaks, cant send to another computer, cant transfer files, someone walks in or the phone rings right in the middle of a mix etc etc... Even when I go to someone els's to record ive had the most random things happen that f*ck everything up.

Please DJ's tell me a demo is this hard to make for you all?

[Revolver]

i like it when a mix is a one-shot live off the floor just like at a club or party with all the little mistakes that ALL djs make kept in.

that shows you have some skill. im always very impressed when i notice a dj recovering from a botched mix with skill and ease.

thats the mark of a professional